Footwear fitment

ABSTRACT

A shoe fitment comprising a body member whereby the fitment can be mounted on a shoe, and a display mounted on, or incorporated in, the body member for viewing from outside a shoe on which the fitment is mounted. The display serves to provide one of decoration and/or information. Typically the display is a three dimensional component mounted on the body member and, in a preferred version, the display is a three dimensional component mounted on the body member which display is at least partly free to move relative to the body member. In another version, the display is a surface which includes a letter and/or a number the surface being a part of, or being attached to, the body member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a footwear fitment.

BACKGROUND ART

In our Community Design Registration 000526181-0001 (hereafter ‘the Design Registration’) there is shown a heel protecting device which can be located on a heel section of a shoe. It serves to protect the heel of somebody sliding their foot into the shoe. It further serves to prevent abrasion of the foot of a wearer of the shoe on which the device is located.

In developing the device of the Design Registration it has been found that the device is a capable of further significant applications.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a footwear fitment comprising:

-   -   a body member whereby the fitment can be mounted on an article         of footwear; and     -   a display mounted on, or incorporated in, the body member for         viewing from outside footwear on which the fitment is mounted,         the display serving to provide for ornamentation, decoration or         information display.

According to a first preferred version of the first aspect the display is a three dimensional component mounted on the body member. Typically the display is a three dimensional component such that at least part of the display is free to move relative to the body member.

According to a second preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or of the first preferred version thereof the display is a surface which includes a letter and/or a number the surface being a part of, or is attached to, the body member.

According to a third preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or of any preceding preferred version thereof the display contrasts in whole or in part in appearance with the body member with which it is mounted or incorporated.

According to a fourth preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or of any preceding preferred version thereof adapted for mounting on a heel region of a shoe to facilitate entry of a heel of a person putting on the footwear and/or to protect a heel of a person wearing the footwear.

According to a fifth preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or of any preceding preferred versions thereof the footwear fitment is adapted for mounting on a region of the footwear other than a heel region.

According to a sixth preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or of any preceding preferred versions thereof the display is demountably mounted on, or demountably incorporated in, the body member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a pair of footwear fitments according to the first aspect or any preferred version wherein the first fitment of the pair is for a first item of a pair of items and the second fitment of the pair is intended for the second item of the pair of footwear; the second fitment in appearance mirroring, at least in part, the appearance of the first fitment.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an item of footwear equipped with a fitment according to the first aspect of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a pair of items of footwear according to the first aspect of the present invention or any preferred version thereof wherein the first fitment of the pair is for a first item of footwear in a pair of items, the second fitment of the pair is intended for the second item of the pair of footwear; the second fitment in appearance mirroring, at least in part, the appearance of the first fitment.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided an item of footwear equipped with a footwear fitment according to the first aspect of the present invention or any preferred version thereof.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a pair of items of footwear, each item being equipped with a footwear fitment according to the first aspect of the present invention or any preferred version thereof.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention there is provided a pair of items of footwear equipped with a pair of footwear fitments according to the fourth aspect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C are, respectively, a front perspective view, a rear perspective view and a side view of a component the subject of Community Design Registration 000526181;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a first embodiment of a shoe fitment;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a second embodiment of a shoe fitment;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a shoe equipped with a display similar to that of the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 but with the display on a different part of a shoe to a heel.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1A-1C show a body member B to, or on, which a display according to the present invention can be mounted. The member B is a moulding of plastics material. The member B has: an inner side C, an outer side D and a lip E with an inner side F and an outer side G. Gap H is provided beneath the lip E bounded on one side by the inner side F of the lip E and on the other side by outer side D of the member B.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a first embodiment of a fitment 21 made up of a body member B′ and a display which in this case is a suspended ornament 22.

The body member B′ is similar in form and function to body member B of FIGS. 1A-1C. Component parts of the body member B′ corresponding to those of body member B components B-H are given similar references with the addition of a single inverted comma ('). The body member B′ is of a plastics material and is coloured appropriately for the shoe with which the fitment 21 is to be used. If desired the body member B′, or at least the lip E′ part of the body member B′ which is the only part viewable with the fitment 21 in use, can be of transparent or translucent material.

The lower part of the ornament 22 is made up of several separate strands S of bright plated plastics material. The ornament 22 is suspended at from static top end 23 mounted on the body member B′ so that the strands S can move relatively freely both to one another and to the body member B′.

For use the fitment 21 is mounted on a shoe as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 with the ornament 22 suspended from the back of a shoe S. The lip E′ seats on top of upper heel section 24 of shoe S and the outer side D′ of the body member is seated within the heel section to which, if desired, the outer side can be attached by an adhesive layer. In this first embodiment the ornament 22 tends to swing laterally when a wearer moves the shoe so providing a striking visual effect.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment similar in some ways to the second to the first shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. As such components in FIGS. 4 and 5 which are similar in form and function to those in FIGS. 2 and 3 are given similar references letters or numerals with the addition of a double inverted comma (″).

In this second embodiment a fitment 41 made up of a body member B″ and a display in the form of a static ornament 42. The ornament 42 is made up of a pattern of facetted crystal elements fixed to a backing attached by way of a mounting to lip E″. In this second embodiment the ornament 42 produces a glittering effect regardless of whether a wearer of a shoe S″ to which the fitment 41 is attached moves their foot or keeps it still.

The ornaments 22, 42 can be of any material including those used in costume jewelry as well as precious metals or gemstones as well as being in any form. In addition the ornaments 22, 42 are shown as being relatively small. Other embodiments can make use of an ornament of relatively large size if desired. However in such cases it is desirable that the subsequent use at least if it involves if it involves walking with the shoe is not likely to lead to damage to the fitment or harm to the wearer of a shoe equipped with the fitment.

In the embodiments discussed so far the fitment has been attached to the heel area of a shoe. However the fitment is suitable for attachment to some other part of footwear by virtue of the simple but positive mounting by way of the gap between the lip and the remainder of the body member. For example FIG. 6 shows a shoe T with a fitment 51 similar to fitment 41 referred to in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this case the fitment 51 is mounted on the shoe T at a location on the periphery P of the shoe T at a place other than the heel.

In yet another embodiment the display can be something other than an ornament or decoration. For example the display can take the form of a logo, message or other identifier. Typically cabin staff on a passenger aircraft or staff on other forms of transport can have a fitment according to the invention which identifies the airline involved.

The invention can also provide for an energizable fitment to be coupled to a battery located in the shoe so that the fitment display can be caused to change appearance such as by flashing or changing a visual element in the display of the fitment.

The exemplary embodiments have their display permanently attached to their body member. It is also envisaged that in an alternative version the display can be demountably attached to its body member. This would provide for a given display to be cleaned or repaired.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention provides for a novel fitment for attachment to an item of footwear whereby a variety of decorative, ornamental or informative display can be readily attached to the foot wear. 

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A shoe fitment comprising: a body member whereby the fitment can be mounted on a shoe; and a display mounted on, or incorporated in, the body member for viewing from outside a shoe on which the fitment is mounted, and the display serving to provide decoration or information.
 15. The shoe fitment according to claim 14, wherein the display is a three dimensional component mounted on the body member.
 16. The shoe fitment according to claim 15, wherein the display is a three dimensional component mounted on the body member which display is at least partly free to move relative to the body member.
 17. The shoe fitment according to claim 14, wherein the display is a surface region which includes at least one of a letter and a number the surface region being a part of, or being attached to, the body member.
 18. The shoe fitment according to claim 14, wherein the display contrasts in whole or in part in appearance with the body member with which it is mounted or incorporated.
 19. The shoe fitment according to claim 14 adapted for mounting on a heel region of a shoe for at least one of to facilitate entry of a heel of a person putting on the shoe and to protect a heel of a person wearing the shoe.
 20. The shoe fitment according to claim 14 adapted for mounting on a region of a shoe other than a heel region.
 21. The shoe fitment according to claim 14, wherein the display is demountably mounted on, or incorporated in, the body member.
 22. A first shoe fitment and a second shoe fitment in which the first and the second shoe fitments each comprising: a body member whereby the fitment can be mounted on a shoe; and a display mounted on, or incorporated in, the body member for viewing from outside a shoe on which the fitment is mounted, and the display serving to provide decoration or information; and the first fitment is for a first shoe of a pair of shoes and the second fitment is intended for the second shoe of the pair of shoes; and the second fitment in appearance mirroring, at least in part, the appearance of the first fitment.
 23. The shoe fitment according to claim 14, wherein a shoe is equipped with the shoe fitment.
 24. The shoe fitment according to claim 14, wherein a pair of shoes is each equipped with the shoe fitment.
 25. The first shoe fitment and the second shoe fitment according to claim 22, wherein a pair of shoes is equipped with the first shoe fitment and the second shoe fitment. 